What is Sexual Harassment?

Definition:
Sexual Harassment is
defined by the law as any
unwanted attention of a
sexual nature.
What is sexual harassment among students?
Student to student
harassment includes
unwelcome verbal,
physical, or visual
conduct of a sexual
nature that is severe
and pervasive.
 FLIRTING VS. SEXUAL
HARASSMENT
Flirting
 Flirting is welcome attention.
 Flirting goes both ways.
 Flirting makes you feel attractive.
 Flirting makes you feel in control.
 Flirting makes you feel good about
yourself.
 Flirting is legal.
Sexual Harassment
 Sexual harassment makes us
feel uncomfortable.
 Sexual harassment is one-sided.
 Sexual harassment feels
degrading.
 Sexual harassment makes you
feel powerless.
 Sexual harassment makes you
feel bad about yourself.
 Sexual harassment is a violation
of school rules AND is illegal.
 3 Types of Sexual Harassment
VISUAL – inappropriate instant message or email, bathroom wall graffiti, showing someone inappropriate pictures that makes them feel
uncomfortable, obscene gestures

VERBAL – dirty jokes, comments about someone’s body, spreading rumors of a sexual nature

PHYSICAL – grabbing or touching someone that makes them feel uncomfortable, unwanted hugging or kissing, pulling down someone ’s
pants
 VERBAL, VISUAL OR
PHYSICAL?
Jasmine spreads rumors all over school that Tonya is
only popular because “She gives guys what they want.”
Kirk writes a gross message about Joy on the wall of
the boys’ bathroom.
Walter tries to pants Jason on the bus.
On a field trip, Ron plants himself next to Sophie and
keeps pushing up against her, even when she tries to
move away.
Emily keeps giving Aaron flirtatious notes and leaving
phone messages even though he’s made it clear that he
doesn’t want this attention.
Anthony’s dirty jokes at the lunch table embarrass
Lauren. She tries to ignore him, but he doesn’t stop
even after she asks him to.
THE SURVEY

1,965 students in grades 7–12 participated in a

nationally representative survey sample during
May and June 2011.

They shared their experiences and thoughts

about sexual harassment during
the 2010–11 school year.
Figure 2. Types of Sexual Harassment Students Experienced in
Person, by Gender
Figure 4. Why Students Sexually Harassed Other Students
STUDENT VOICES

“I was sent a website to look up and I did and it was to a porn

site. It was very upsetting to me.”

After being called a whore by “almost everyone” at her school

and being sexually harassed both online and in person, an
8th-grade girl said she “looked into switching schools.”

“Everyone was saying I was gay, and I felt the need to have to
run away and hide.”

“An 8th-grade guy passed by me and said, really softly, ‘What’s

up, sexy?’ and then kept on walking. It really creeped me out.”
STUDENT VOICES

“The person made a comment that he would like to see me naked,

but I told him that was not funny and not to say that again.”

“This boy who was my friend kept touching my butt and I kept
telling him to stop. Then he touched my boob and I went to the
office and told them.”

When random people ran up to him and called him gay, a student
said, “I told my friends and laughed it off.”

A student who was called gay wrote, “I can’t tell teachers, they
don’t care.”
Figure 7. Student Reactions to Sexual Harassment, by Gender
How does sexual harassment affect the
victim?
Physical Effects: Emotional Effects: School
Performance
Effects:
Changes in body Anger / Irritability Acting out
weight Depression Damaged
Illness Loss of trust in reputation
Dependence on others Drop in quality of
alcohol / drugs Embarrassment work
Headaches/ Low self-esteem Declining grades
stomach aches Fear / Intimidated Switching schools
Sleeplessness Self-blame Switching classes
Ulcers Powerlessness Tardiness
Truancy
 Myths vs. Facts
“Sexual harassment is a harmless joke that doesn’t hurt anyone.”
“Girls ask to be sexually harassed by the way they dress or behave.”
“There’s nothing a person can do to stop harassment.”
“Guys cannot be sexually harassed.”
“Girls like to be sexually harassed. It’s a way of complimenting someone.”
“Sexual harassment is the same as flirting.”
 Do you think sexual
harassment happens
the most in middle
school, high school or
college?
 STATISTICS:
An independent study by the American Association
of University Women Educational Foundation
found that 76% of boys and 85% of girls have been
sexually harassed during middle school.
Students most often experience sexual harassment
for the first time during 6th to 9th grade.
81% of students will experience some form of
sexual harassment at some time while they are in
school, with 27% experiencing it often.
Where does
sexual
harassment
occur in
 STATISTICS:
School Hallways: 66%
Classrooms: 55%
School Grounds: 43%
Gym or Playing Fields: 43%
Cafeteria: 34%
School Bus: 26%
Field Trip: 24%
School Parking Lot: 18%
Locker Room: 18%
Restrooms: 10%
 Is sexual
harassment all
about boys
harassing girls?
 STATISTICS:
76% of high school boys reported “ unwanted
sexual behavior that interferes with their lives.”
18% of boys were targeted “ often.”
42% of boys have been inappropriately
touched, grabbed or pinched.
23% of boys have been called “ gay” in a
derogatory manner.
 Sexual Harassment and the Law
A person who, with an intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person but with no intent of legitimate communication:
Makes a telephone call, whether or not a conversation ensues;
Communicates with a person by mail or other written communication
Transmits an obscene message
Uses a computer network or other form of electronic communication to:
a. Communicate with a person; or
b. Transmit an obscene message or indecent or profane words to a person
Commits harassment, a Class B misdemeanor.

Class B misdemeanor is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 in fines.

 Case Example
Federal appellate court upholds $200,000 jury verdict against Florida district for stu
dent-on-student sexual harassment
Mathis v. Wayne County Bd. of Educ., No. 11-5979 (6th Cir. Aug. 23, 2012)

Abstract: A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
(KY, MI, OH, TN) has upheld a jury verdict for $200,000 for the parents of two
male middle school students who were sexually harassed by their basketball
teammates in the school’s locker room, affirming the district court’s denial of the
school board’s renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Having reviewed the evidence, the panel rejected WBOE’s allegation and agreed
with the district court that there was ample evidence before the jury from which
reasonable jurors could have concluded that WBOE’s response constituted
“deliberate indifference” under Title IX, and was insufficient to provide a safe
environment in this student-on-student sexual harassment case.

21
From the Comal ISD Parent/Student
Handbook:
Sexual harassment and gender-based harassment of a
student by an employee, volunteer or another student
are prohibited. Examples of sexual harassment may
include, but not be limited to, touching private body
parts or coercing physical contact that is sexual in
nature; sexual advances; jokes or conversations of a
sexual nature; and other sexually motivated conduct,
communications or contract.
What to do if it happens to you?

Step 1: Communicate to your harasser what you are feeling

and that you expect the behavior to stop. You can do this
verbally or in writing. If you choose, you may get help and
support from a friend, parent, professional or another trusted
adult.
Step 2: If the person does not stop when you ask them to,
report the harassment to the appropriate person in your school
including a teacher, counselor, or administrator and tell your
parents. Document exactly what happened giving as many
details and quotes when possible.
Step 3: If the behavior is repeated again, go to a person in
higher authority, such as a school board member or
superintendant. Be persistent!
 STUDENTS

Challenge sexual harassment.

One survey respondent advised that the best way to reduce sexual
harassment in schools is for students to “take a stand against the
person doing the harassing and don’t let them get away with it. If more
students would fight for their rights instead of being scared, stand up to
the abuser, life would go a lot smoother.”
 HOW CAN YOU HELP?
 Refuse to join in when you see someone being
harassed. Don’t ignore it.
 If you feel safe doing so, step in and interrupt the
harassment.
 Get support, tell an adult that you trust. Don’t be a
bystander.
 Talk to the person being harassed and try to get
them to talk to an adult. Offer to go with them.
Overall, be supportive!
NOBODY DESERVES TO BE
SEXUALLY HARASSED!
Don’t be the kind of person who
sexually harasses someone. Be the
kind of person who stands up again
sexual harassment.